Former Visalia school board member sentenced on charges

Larry Jones pleads to charges days before trial was to start

12:51 PM,
Apr. 18, 2013

Larry Jones

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Just days before the scheduled start of his trial on sexual battery and lewdness charges, former Visalia Unified board member Larry Jones entered no-contest pleas in court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors say it was part of a plea deal in which they agreed to change the sexual battery charge against Jones to a count of battery, while the second charge, lewd conduct in a public place, remained unchanged.

The changes didn't alter the potential sentences Jones faced on the misdemeanor charges, up to a year in jail on each. But removing the "sexual" component from the battery conviction means he will not ...